Toronto Blue Jays Release Ricky Romero: What Might Have Been
By Paul Taylor
Toronto Blue Jays Release Ricky Romero: What Might Have Been
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The Toronto Blue Jays have released Ricky Romero. And it’s fair to say most of the fans, media and his teammates are saddened by this news.
The news was confirmed in a report by Brandon Wile of thescore.com. In many respects. Romero’s fall from grace was as spectacular as his rise to prominence in the Blue Jays organisation.
He was selected sixth overall in the 2005 MLB amateur draft. As such, hopes for the pitcher were high.
However, Romero still surprised most people with how he burst onto the scene in 2009. In 29 starts, he recorded a 13-9 record, with an ERA of 4.30.
During that rookie campaign, he tied the Blue Jays rookie record for consecutive scoreless innings with 24. By the end of the season, the East Los Angeles, California native was considered the team’s number two starter, behind a certain Roy Halladay.
Feb 25, 2014; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Ricky Romero (24) poses for a photo at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
When Halladay was traded away after the season, the pressure fell on Romero to pick up the slack in 2010. And did he ever, going 14-9 in 32 starts, pitching 200+ innings and improving his ERA to 3.73.
The Blue Jays were so impressed, towards the end of the 2010 season they signed the left-hander to a five-year $30.1 million extension. It was the ultimate show of faith, with no evidence that it would prove to be the wrong move.
Initially at least, the Blue Jays decision was justified, as the following season Romero recorded a 15-11 record and once again improving his ERA, this time to a career-high 2.92. He also earned his first call-up to the All-Star game.
At that point, no one knew what was coming in 2012. Romero started the season with an 8-1 record, and no one seemed too concerned by his ERA of 4.34.
However, it was at this point that the wheels started to fall off. He went 1-13 the rest of the way and recorded a 7.35 ERA, despite no evidence of any injury issues.
Things only got worse for Romero, with the sudden loss of form resulting in his spending the majority of the following campaign with the Buffalo Bisons. Even when he did start two games for the Blue Jays, he went 0-2, with a horrific 11.05 ERA.
The 30-year old would go on to start the 2014 season with the Bisons. However, after a poor start, things got even worse, as an injury resulted in season-ending knee surgery in June.
Romero began 2015 on the disabled list, resulting in Alex Anthopoulos’ decision to release him. As the General Manager explained to the media, it made little sense to keep him, given that this is the final year of his deal.
Anthopoulos also advised the former College Baseball World Series winner is nowhere near to returning to the majors. Pending his recovery, Romero will try to catch on with another organisation, although his chances of returning to the heady heights of 2009-11 appear extremely unlikely.